Apparatus for positioning fluid barriers



May 11, 1965 T. H. GRETHER ETAL 3,182,459

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS Filed Deo. 5, 1962 9Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 11, 1965 I Filed Dec. 5, 1962 T. H. GRETHERETAL APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3A

NVENTORS TOBIAS H. GRETHER JAMES BERMANN Bgz/a/wl/ ATTORNEY May 11, 1965T. H. GRETHER ETAL 3,182,459

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS Filed Dec. 5, 1962 9Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS TOBIAS H. GRETHER JAMES BERMANN WMM/,4M

ATTORNEY T. H. GRETHER ETAL 3,182,459

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS May 11, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Dec. 5, 1962 R mE Y OHN E ITN N NEA C R VGR N l .E A HB d/ S S MWM O Lw Y B 4 G El T. H. GRETHER ETAL 3,182,459

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS May 11, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec. 5, 1962 INVENTORS TOBIAS H. GRETHER JAMES BERMANN ATTORNEYMay 11, 1965 T, H. GRETHER ETAL 3,182,459

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 5,1962 I N VE NTORS H. GRETHER TOBIAS ATTORNEY May 11, 1965 T. H. GRETHERETAL APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 5, 1962 INVENTORS Hi GRETHER y TOBIAS JAMES BERMANN Wada/ra?ATTORNEY May 11,y 1965 T. H, GRETHER ETAL 3,182,459"

FIG. I2

INVENTRc ToBiAs H. GRETHER BY JAMES BERMANN MfJc/r ATTORNEY May 11, 1965T. H. GRETHER ETAL. 3,182,459

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS TOBIAS H. GRETHER JAMES BERMANNBX/Mfca? l ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,182,459 APPARATUS FURPSITIONING FLUID BARRIERS Tobias H. Grether, Camarillo, and JamesBermann, X-

nard, Calif., assignors to Consolidated Thermoplastics Company,Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 5, E1962, Ser. No.242,548 8 Claims. (Cl. 61-63) AThis is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Serial No. 135,951, tiled September 5, 1961.

Earthen mounds are frequently used to impound or channelize water. Suchearthen mounds are used along the edge of rivers, lakes, and inagricultural uses for directing irrigation water and forming levees inrice fields and the like. Typically, a rice field is surveyed toestablish various terraces and earthen levees are constructed along theperiphery of the terrace to impound water within the terrace area at ahigher level than the Water impounded at a lower terrace area. It hasbeen found that these earthen levees have many disadvantages, including:(1) reduction of rice yield within the area extending up to ten feetfrom ythe earthen levee due to soil removal and the propensity of weedsand water grass to grow in this area; (2) frequent washouts of thelevees during periods of high winds; and, (3) the earthen levees providea time consuming obstacle in the preparation of the rice lield prior toplanting, since the plowing and Vfertilizing apparatus must maneuverWithin the periphery of the earthen levees; and a similar obstacle to asimple and economical harvesting of the rice crop since the harvestingequipment must operate within the periphery of the earthen levee andpaths must be broken through the levees to pass from one terrace to thenext.

Thus, many advantages would accrue to a rice grower if the earthenlevees could be eliminated. The present invention is particularlydirected to a method and apparatus for quickly and easily erecting asynthetic peripheral levee for a rice lield, which levee replaces theconventional earthen levee. This synthetic levee is described in U.S.patent application Serial Number 135 ,951.

To be economically sound, it is essential that the erection of the leveedescribed in the aforementioned patent application be a method whichminimizes hand labor and maximizes the use of powered equipment. Ourinvention accomplishes this end by providing a method and apparatuswhich can function at high capacity while utilizing only one or twooperators.

Our method according to the present invention includes the basic stepsof (l) forming a continuous opening in the soil along a path Where onedesires to erect a water barrier; (2) positioning a continuous sheet ofplastic film vertically above the soil opening with the lower edge ofthe film extending into said opening (the iilm is disposed entirelyvertically, or in an S or Z shape, or an L shape with the lower leg ofthe L disposed entirely within the soil opening); (3) partly orcompletely filling said soil opening to form a substantially fluid tightseal between the plastic film and the soil; and (4) positioning rigiduprights adjacent the soil opening and fastening the vertically disposediilm to the uprights.

Our method is accomplished by a unique apparatus which includes thefollowing basic elements: (l) a cutting and/ or digging mechanismengageable with the soil to provide a continuous opening in the soilalong a desired path; (2) a feeding and positioning mechanism toestablish the plastic film vertically in and above the soil opening; (3)a driving mechanism to position the uprights in the soil adjacent thecontinuous opening; and, (4) a positioning mechanism to fasten theplastic lm to the upright.

In the drawings, we have described a present preferred embodiment of ourinvention in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective of a water barrier, specifical- BRZEQ PatentedMay ll, 1965 ICC ly a rice field levee, -erected by use of the methodand apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-section through the barrier taken on line2-2 of FIGURE l;`

FIGURE 3A is a side elevation view of a rear portion of the apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIGURE 3B is a side elevation View of a front portion of the apparatusaccording to the present invention with parts removed for clarity, asubsoiler and stake driver in raised position, and constitutes acontinuation of FIG- URE 3A;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3B and constitutes a continuation ofFIGURE 3A, but shows the subsoiler and stake driver in lowered positionwith a stake in driven position;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section taken on line 5 5 of FIG- URE 3B;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation view of the apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective of a portion of the machine according to thepresent invention with parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective of an alternative arrangement for feedingplastic film according to the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective of a second alternative arrangement forfeeding plastic iilm according to the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective of the subsoiler and filmfeeding mechanismwith parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1l but showing theentire subsoiler in operative position;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevation view of a stake-feeder according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged side elevation view of a portion of astake-feeder dog for moving the stake in the feeder shown in FIGURE l2;and,

FIGURE 15 is a cross-section taken on line 15-15 of FIGURE 12.

Briefly the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus forerecting a synthetic water barrier, specifically a synthetic levee for arice field. This synthetic levee comprises, in combination, a pluralityof uprights with a portion of each upright disposed within and supportedby the soil; a substantially fluid impervious, flexible member, such asplastic sheet or lilm, folded longitudinally into two side portions witha crease along the upper edge; a longitudinal support member (i.e., astring or cord) disposed along and aflixed to the upper edge of thesheet, and preferably disposed within the crease, and attached to eachupright at a spaced point above the soil; and the lower edge (or edges)of the side portions of the fluid impervious member being positioned influid sealing relationship with the soil whereby a iuid barrier isestablished. The barrier can be endless with a regular or irregularlinear pattern or can be disposed between two other fluid barriers withits ends in fluid sealing relationship with such barriers.

Our method according to the present invention includes inserting aplurality of uprights partially into the soil in a predetermined linearpath, positioning a liuid impervious, planar, flexible member, such asplastic sheet or film, vertically along the linear path and inengagement with the uprights, positioning an elongated support memberlongitudinally along and aixed to the upper edge of the flexible member;attaching the support member to each upright at a point spaced above thesoil; and sealing the lower edge of the side portions of the iiuidimpervious member in a fluid sealing relationship with the soil wherebya liuid barrier is established. Preferside portions.

ably avslit is cut in the soil into which the lower edges Our apparatusaccording to the lpresent invention includcs a powered vehicle, eitherwheel or track mounted, 'movable along a path over the soilthe vehiclebemg The. fluid irn- 1 adapted to carry and supply operating power tovarious p K elements including: a subsoile'r or plow mounted on thefront of the vehicle and engageable with the soilrto penetrate and cut avertical slit, trench or channel (hereinafter called trench) in thesoil; a film feeding mechanism to supply the iiuidirnpervious barrierimmediately behind the plow or subsoiler and deposit thelower edge (oredges) of the barrier into the trench; withthe barrier disposed normalto the soil surface means to supply the elongated support memberlongitudinally. disposed along and aiiixed to the upper edge of thebarrier or within la crease in the upper edge of the barrier; means toembed the lower end of the uprights in the soil at a desired pointrelative to the soil trench; and preferably means to attach theelongated support member to the uprights.

Referrinor specifically Vto FlGURES l and 2 ofthe drawings, a pluralityof rigid uprights 2li are partially disposed lwithin the soil 2l. Theupright is preferably a wooden `stake having a lower portion extendinginto the soil and an upper `portion extending above theV soil, and arespaced apart at substantially uniform intervals. The uprights arealigned in a predetermined linear path or pattern which defines aregular or irregular endless configuration or :can extend fromone fluidbarrier to a second fluid barrier. Although wooden stakes are pre ferredas the uprights, other rigid materials such as metal or plastic supportscan also be utilized successfully.

Preferably the stakes are thirty inches long and are driven into thesoil about fourteen inches. The stakes are inserted into the soil on thedownhill side of the field with respect to the location of the trench 22and are spaced about four feet apart with each stake being about fourinches from the near edge of the trench 22 as shown in the preferredembodiment of FIGURE 2.

A `substantially fluid impervious, flexible member 23, foldedlongitudinally into two side portions to form a crease 24 along theupper edge of the member 23 and having an elongated support 25longitudinally disposed within the crease, is attached by a staple 26about the crease to each upright Ztl ata spaced point above the soil 2l.

Although We prefer to utilize a staple in attaching the support memberto the upright support, other modes of attachment can be used eitherthrough luse of manual` means or automatic machine means as described inthe present application.

The fluid impervious member is preferably rectanguf.

larly shaped and folded longitudinally into two uniform A roll oflay-fiat polyethylene tubing having a thirty inch width and slit alongone edgeis advantageously employed as the fluid impervious flexiblemember.

We have found that variousV lm .thicknessesl can be used but prefer afilm 'having a thickness of about 3.5 mils and folded into two sidevportions to provide .a total Vthickness of about 7 mils is veryeffective as a fluid barricrin a s nthetc levee for use in rice rowing.Otheri materials which can bevused in fabricating the fluid imperviousmember include for example,` polypropylene, waterproof paper, fiberglassand rubber.

The elongated support member YV25 can be twine, wire or synthetic wovenmaterial andV we have found a three-- hundred pound test lbaier twineisV particularly effective as a support member.

The folded plastic film has anupper section 27, an'inter- Vmediatesection 2li and a'lower section'29. The upper i i section 27 of thefolded iilrn extends from thc point of attachment to the upright' tothesoil adjacent to the upright and continuous as the intermediate section28 which overlies a portion'of thel soil adjacent to thestake. Theintermediate section terminates in a lower section 29 which is Vdisposedrin VYfluid sealing relationship with the soil 2l. In ourpreferredembodiment, they lower section V1w is disposed withina 'trench22 lcutin the soil in the manner to be described hereinafter andthetrench'is. in substantially uniform spaced relationship to the stakes.Soil is compacted aroundV the lower section disposedin Vthe trench toforma iluidrseal at the junction of the film and the soil. KAPreferably'the trench 22, is :aboutone and one-half inches wide and aboutvninefinches deep.

The power plantforV our invention is a conventional tractor 39V having apair of spacedv front wheels 31 'and driven spaced rear wheels'32.V Forpurposes of the present illustration, we have shown this conventionaltractor 3d with thek rear axle extendedV on the right side, of thetractor to provide operational stability for the tractor in use. rl`hisconventional tractor has been further modified to provide Vpower sourcesfor the various power actuated devices to Ybe described hereinafter.Preferably, the internal combustionrengine, for driving the rear wheelsof the tractor, also drives a pump to supply pressurized uid for useinhydraulic cylinders and motors, to be described hereinafter. As iswell-known ,inV the art, conventional switches and kvalves are mountedon the tractor,` within easy' reach vof thetractor operator, forcontrolling the iiow of pressurized 'fluid to and from the hydraulic.cylinders and motors.

A plow or subsoiler 33 is mounted on the tractor at the right frontcorner thereofi This plow 3-3 includes a front pointed digging 'element34 having two rearwardly extending substantially parallel spaced plates35 constituting the wings of the plow and integral withdigging element34. The plow is mounted in a cantilever fashionfrom a verticallyextending shaft 36 which is reciprocal in a vertical shaft mountingbearing 37. The shaft 36 extends through andy slidably engages themounting bearing 37. The upper end of a piston rod `38, reciprocal inahydraulic cylinder 39, is swingably attached to a mounting block itlintegral from the tractor to provide a rigid mounting for bearing l37. Asuitable source of pressurized iiuid is provided for the cylinder 39 andupon introduction of the fluid in the lowerend of the cylinder, thepiston rod 33 moves upwardly thereby elevatingshaft 36 and the plow orsubsoiler 33 from the ,position shown in FIGURE 4 to the position shownin FIGURE 3B.. FIGURE 4 shows the plow 33 in its lowered position inengagement with the ,soilland operative to cut or dig a narrow channelYor slit in the soil to receive .the vlower end of they plastic film.FIGURE 3Bshows the plow 33 in elevated non-operative position. p p Y' YReferring specifically to FIGURES ll and l2, the digging element 34 andintegral plates 35 form a rectangular enclosure open at the top and rearsides.,V A "horizontal 'rod 42-is mounted .on a front-plate 43 which:isjintegral with the top side 0f digger 34.1' RodV 42 is locatedimmediately Vabove thetop opening of the plow 33 and can bemounted inendybearingsfor rotation aboutits longi- `ltudinal axis if'desired. A lowerrod 44 is mounted horizontally within, and near the bottom of therectangular i enclosure formed by plates 35 and elementd'. The forwardend of rod 44 is'mounted in a hole in thev rear side of digging element34. The rearward end of rodld Vis Preferably rod 46 is disposed at about45 degrees from the horizontal in a rearwardly projecting direction. Thelower end lof rod 46 is integral with rod 44 and the upper end of rod 46is integral with rods 42 and 45. Rod 44 can be end mounted in bearingsfor rotation about its longitudinal axis.

A roll of plastic film 47 is mounted for rotation about its longitudinalaxis immediately adjacent the plow 33. Suitable plates 48 are providedwith integral bearings housing the axle of the roll 47. The plates 4Sare afiixed to supports 49 which are welded to the plates 35 of plow 33.Thus upon raising or lowering the plow 33, the plastic roll 47 is movedlikewise. The plastic sheet from the roll is fed toward the plow 33,over the top rod 42, downwardly between the plates 35, under the bottomrod 44, and then up over the diagonal rod 46 which functions as adirection changer for the sheet, thereby feeding the sheet rearwardly ofthe plow 33 while implanting the lower edge (or edges) of the film inthe trench 22 cut in the soil by the digger element 34. In our preferredembodiment shown in the drawings, the plastic sheet is a continuousfluid impervious film folded longitudinally into two side portions witha crease or fold along one edge. The plastic film is p-ositioned on theroll 47 such that the folded edge is upward after the film passes fromthe diagonal rod 46 rearwardly from the plow 33. In FIG- URE 8, thefolded or creased edge of the sheet is on the left hand side of roll 47.

Immediately behind the plow 33 is a feeding device for the longitudinalsupport member which preferably is a string or cord 25. The feedingdevice is a U-shaped tube having a first leg 49 outside the plasticfilm, connected by a U-tube to a second leg Sti positioned inside thefolded plastic film. The U-tube connecting the legs passes beneath thelower edge of the film. The tube leg 5@ terminates at its upper end inan L-shaped configuration opening rearwardly of the plow 33.

The string or cord 25 is fed from a spool 5I, mounted on a verticalaxis, for rotation l011 the tractor, into the open end of tube leg 49,through legs 49 and 50 and the connecting U-tube and out the end openingof tube Si) to position the string yor cord within the upper fold of theplastic iilm. The entrance end for the U-shaped tube into which thestring or cord is fed, is positioned outside the plastic film and theexit end of the tube is positioned within the crease or fold of theplastic film as shown in FIG- URES 11 and 12.

We have shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 alternative modes of feeding -theplastic lm. In FIGURE 9 the plastic is fed from the r-oll 47 around asingle diagonal rod S2, positioned within the space between the I plowplates 35 and preferably at about 45 degrees to the horizontal, and in arearwardly direction upon leaving rod 52 to deposit the film in thetrench 22. The rod 52 operates as a right angle direction changer forthe film. The folded or creased edge of the film is on the right handside of the roll as viewed in FIGURE 8 to position the creased or foldededge upward upon deposition in trench 22.

In FIGURE 10 we have shown the plastic film being fed downwardly fromroll 47, around a diagonal rod 53, positioned between the plow plates35, then forwardly around a vertically extending and rotatable rod 54which reverses the direction of the plastic film and feeds it rearwardlyof the plow 33. The rod 53 functions as a right angle direction changerfor the film and rod 54 functions as a direction reverser for the film.

Although we only have shown several specific modes for feeding the film,various other configurations of feeding mechanisms are apparent and thecontrolling factor is to feed the film such that it is deposited withits lower edge (or edges in the case of folded film) in trench 22. Ourpreferred film feeding method is to deposit the lower edge of the filmin trench 22 immediately behind the digging element 34 while the plowplates 35 maintain the side walls of the trench if the side walls of thetrench have caved or tumbled into the trench. 0f course, the film can bedeposited in the trench at a point remote from where the trench was dugif the side walls of the trench are prevented lfrom tumbling or cavingin. This result may be effected yby sloping the side walls upwardly andoutwardly to form an inverted cone or truncated cone shaped trench.

A stake driving mechanism 55 (FIGURES 3B, 4, 6 and 8) is locatedimmediately behind the cord feeding device. A vbull wheel 56, having anintegral axle 57 rotatably mounted in bearings 58 supported by mountingplates S@ affixed to the tractor, supplies the driving force for thestake driver. The bull whe/el has substantial mass such that the kineticenergy of the wheel is very large at the starting point `for driving thestake.

The bull wheel is driven by a motor oil, preferably hyraulicallyoperated, mounted on a motor support plate 6i afxed to the tractor. Themotor 60 drives a continuous belt 62 which in turn drives the bull wheelS6.

The axle 57 rotates an arm 63 integral with the end of the axle on theright side of the tractor. Arm 63 is pivotally joined, by a pin 64, to adriving arm 65. The arm 65 is pivotally joined, by a pin 66, to a stakedriving head. The head includes a yoke 68 which receives the pin 66; afiat bottom driving plate 67 aflixed to the under side of the yoke andengageable with the upper end of the stake during driving thereof; astake backing plate 69 affixed to the under side of the driving plateand engageable with the side of the stake (toward the tractor) duringdriving thereof to stabilize the stake against sidewise movement; aninverted V-shaped spacer bar 70 integral with the under side of thedriving plate and engageable with the forward side of the stake duringdriving thereof; and an H-shaped slide bar 71 afiixed to the forwardsloping face of the V- shaped spacer bar '70.

A slide race, along which the stake driving head reciprocates, includesa C-shape race 72 affixed to a vertical support plate 73 welded tosupport plate 41 integral with the tractor frame. The race l72 isinclined forward toward the direction of movement of the tractor and atan included acute angle to the horizontal. One fiange of the slide bar7l fits into and reciprocates along the race 72. The front sloping faceof the spacer bar 70 is at the same angle as the race 72.

Since the machine is continuously moving forward during the dikingoperation (preferably at about 1.5 miles per hour) and the stakes arebeing continuously driven at about equally spaced locations upon eachrotation of the bull wheel 56, it is necessary that the stake drivingmechanism be constructed to allow for forward movement of tht machineduring driving of the individual stakes. Thus the stake drivingmechanism must drive the stake vertically into the soil, but this stakedriving requires a period of time equal to the time interval for thebull wheel 5d to move from the position shown in FIGURE 3B to theposition shown in FIGURE 4. Since the stake cannot be moved forward onceit engages the soil, andthe machine is continually moving forward, thestake driving head. must move rearwardly of the machine to compensatefor the forward movement of the machine. This is accomplished by theinclination of the race 72 such that the stake driving head movesrearwardly simultaneously with its downward movement. The angle at whichthe race 72 is inclined depends upon the speed of forward movement ofthe machine-as the machine moves faster, the included angle lessensbetween the race 72 and the horizontal. Of course, as the inclination ofrace 72 is changed, the front sloping face of spacer bar 79 must bechanged to conform with the inclination. The speed of rotation of thebull wheel 56 is regulated to drive a stake at equally spaced locationshaving the desired distance between the locations.

It is desirable in some applications of the `present -invention toutilize an activator switch for the motor 69. A counter wheel (notshown) may be placed on the roll of film, or in contact with the lilmafter leaving the roll, such that the countervrecords the lnumber* offeet of ilm fed from the roll and upon reaching a predetermined value,the counter activates motor eil to drive a stake 2d. lmmediatelyafteractivation of the motor, the counter resets to zero to commencecounting again for the next increment Vof film. This counter arrangementinsures accurate spaccovered by the wheel; an electronic or microswitchsensing device activatable by a driven stake whereby the motor 60 isactivated. However, our preferred embodimentis shown in the drawingswherein the Vmachine moves continually forward at a predetermined speedand the stake driver is continuously operated to drive the stakes atabout equally spaced locations.

A stapling mechanism '75 (FIGURE 8)'is located immediately behind thestake driving mechanism 55. The

stapling mechanism includes a Well-known stapling device V76,'anintegral cross-arm 77, and a rotatable backing roller 78. The foldedfilm 23 passes beneath the cross arm 77 and between the stapling device'76 and backing .roller 78; The stake 2@ passes beneath the cross-arm-*mechanism stationary relative kto the tractor..

The chain drivesV mounted at the top andbottomrrof the feedy mechanismare identical in construction, therefore only one will be describedherein. The chain drive includes a pair of spaced sprockets9conventionally and between the ilm 23 and backing roller 78. The

Vstapling device 76'is the type which dispenses a vertically disposedU-shaped staple 26 as shown in FIGUREA 2. The backing roller 78 engagesthe outside surface of the stake near the upper end to stabilize thestake during the stapling operation. Preferably the staple is drivenaround '.the Vstring or cord 25 into `the upper end of the stake asshown in FIGURE 2. The stapling operation must be very rapid since theiilm and stakes are moving continuously past the stapler.; We have foundthat it is desirable to Vresiliently mount the` stapling device 76 suchthat the de* vice can move a shortdistance rearwardly on the machinewith the Stake and film.V This allow additional time for the staplingoperation from the moment 0f engagement of the staple with the'stake tocompletion of the insertion .of the staple in the stake.

In FIGURES 13-15, we have shown a feed mechanism for individuallyfeeding the stakes 2u into a'position to be driven beneath the stakedrivingmechanism S5. The feed mechanism includes a rectangular metalenclosure 79 Y having parallel side walls 8),- side wall extensions 811ntegral vwith and extending downwardly fromthe side walls Sil to housea chain drive to be described hereinafter, and bottom plates ti?. weldedto and between the side walls Sil-and extensions 81 to maintain them inspaced parallel relationship. An integral top plate 83 maintains theupper ends of side walls Vin spaced parallel relationship. 4The upperportions of the side walls 8i) extend above the AYtop plate S3 andprovide a housing for a chain drive to be described hereinafter;

The side wall extensions 81 have a continuous kerf S4 along their insideupper edges to slidably receive and align thelower end of stakes 26. Theupper ends of the stakes pass beneath top plate 33. l

YAfeed magazine (see right side of FIGUREN) is pro- Vvided to depositstakes into the rectangular enclosure. v This magazine includes a bottomplate 82, anrend plate flaredoutwardly at its top and aflixed to plate32 ,to form an L-shaped enclosure openat its si es, and connector barsVS6 aixedbetween side walls 5i? and end plate 85., yA

91 extendsY around and engages the teeth of eachl sprocket such thatrotation of, one sprocket rotates the other sprocket in'unison. Thechain extending between the sprockets engages and slides along aT-shaped plate 92. Y The plate 92 on the lower chain drive Vis atlixedbetween plates Si andfbelow the upper run of the link chain tlgandftheplate 92 on the upper chain drive is affixed between plates titi andabove the lower run of the `link chain 91.

Link chains 91 arey of well-known construction as shown in FGURES 14and. l5, and include equallyrspaced L- shaped link 93 having one leg ofthe L extending'outwardly normalto the plane of thechain. triangularlyshaped dog 94 ispivotally mountedv by a pin 95 afiixed Vto ktheoutwardly extending leg of link 93. The dog is free to pivot to and fromthe positionsshown in solid and dashed lines in FIGURE 14. TheV dog isnormally Vbia-send; to the solid line position'by a spring`96; coiledaround pin 97 and having a tirst legengaging an adjacent Y issubstantially empty; a pluralityv of stakesv are inserted verticallyintothe magazine while Shoe 89 is withdrawn to the right; cylinder 87 isactivated to push the stakes to the .left in FIGURE l2 into positionbetween side walls ist); dogs 94 pivot from the solid line position tothe dashed line position in FIGURE 14 to permit the ends of the lstakesto passthe dogs', and then the dogs are biased toward the solid lineposition, whereby the pointed outer end ofV each dog engages the end ofa stake and activation of the motor driving the sprockets 9u results inmovement of the stakes,toward the left in FIGURE 13.

The drive mechanism for. the sprockets `Qinelude a intermittentlyoperated by manual manipulation or continuously operated with a slipclutch on theV drive shaft.

VFIGURE 13V illustrates a stake positioned 4below the stake drivingmechanism 55 preparatory to `driving the stake. A holder/bari@l ispivotally'mounted at its upper end, byY pin iijo the tractor. The lowerendrof holder bar N2 engages thebottomVV end of'stake 2% positionedbeneath the. stake'. driving mechanism S5.` A spring y104 resilientlyurges the bar 02 into ,engagement Vwith the stake.

` The backing platel69 engages the holder ybar lili asathehydrauliccylinder' 87 is mounted on and has a reciprocatf ing pistonrod'SS extending through the end wall SS.Y A shoe 9ris pivotallymountedgon the free end of piston i rod 88.VL

Thernagazine is loaded by inserting aA plurality Vof stakes into the topofthe-magazinev as shown by the arrow in AFIGURE 13.' The pistonrod 3?;and shoe S9 are retracted head.VV

.stake isi driven and pivots` barY 102 to the left in FIGURE 1.3 out ofthe downwardlpath of movement ofY the driving Operation4 The tractor 39isactivated to move forward along a de sired path; hydraulic fluid isexhausted from the lower AV generally Y the driven stake.

adsense end of cylinder 39 thereby lowering subsoiler 33 into the soil21 (from the position shown in FIGURE 3B to the position shown in FTGURE4); the plastic tilm has previously been threaded on the rods 42, 44, 46and out the rear of the tractor; string 25 has previously been threadedthrough the string feeder tubes into the crease in the film;

a stake is driven into the soil by activating the motor 66 and stapler75 is activated to staple the film and string to The operation of themachine continues in a forward direction by feeding film from roll 47,around the rods, etc. until a continuous supported water barrier isestablished along the desired path. The stake driver is eithercontinuously or intermittently operated.

While we have described a present preferred embodiment of our invention,it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for positioning a plastic nlm fluid barrier in a narrowslit in the earth and extending upright therefrom, comprising: a vehiclehaving a frame and movable along the earth, digging means mounted on thevehicle to penetrate the earth to dig said narrow slit therein, saiddigging means including a front plow positionable below the frame to digthe slit and upright elongated plates aixed to and behind the plow, saidplates being spaced from each other to provide an elongated open spaceimmediately behind the plow, said plates extending lengthwise of and,during operation, being partly disposed within said earth slit; rollsupporting means on said vehicle adapted to support a roll of plasticlrn and to dispense and feed a continuous elongated strip of plasticfilm from the roll; strip upright directing means supported within saidelongated open space and operable for receiving the strip from saidsupporting means and depositing the strip upright with the lower edge ofthe strip in said slit; stake driving means mounted on the vehiclebehind said digging means, said stake driving means including areciprocating driving head, mounted to move vertically at an includedobtuse angle to the earth toward the rear of said stake driving means,said angle being determined by the rate of movement of the vehicle alongthe earth and the spacing between the stakes, power means mounted on thevehicle to reciprocate said driving head up and down relative to theearth; operable for positioning the stakes to be driven immediatelybelow said head and laterally oit-set from the central alignment withthe elongated space between the plates, and fastening means operable toconnect the strip to each stake to maintain the strip in uprightposition.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, including: a iirst bar axed to thevehicle and maintained in a stationary position in the open space behindthe plow, said iirst bar extending lengthwise of said plates, a secondbar aiiixed to the vehicle and maintained in a stationary positionwithin the open space behind the plow, said second bar being positionedand included at an acute angle to the first bar; such that said lmpasses from said roll, through said irst and second bars and out thereaward space between said elongated plates to be inserted vertically insaid slit.

3. An apparatus according to claim l including fastening means mountedon said vehicle and operable to fasten said film to the individualstakes in timed relationship to said stake driving means and after thestakes are driven into the earth.

4. An apparatus according to claim l including `strip folding meansoperable to fold the strip along its upper edge to provide a doublethickness; and cord feeding means on said vehicle operable to feed acontinuous length of cord into the strip fold.

5. An apparatus for providing a water barrier along a predeterminedpath; comprising: a vehicle movable along the earth in said path; plowmeans axed to the vehicle operable to cut a narrow slit in the earthconforming to said path, feed means on the vehicle-.operable to supplyvertically disposed continuous plastic tilm to said slit behind saidplow; stake driving means on the vehicle operable to imbed the lowerends of vertically disposed stakes in the earth along said path, andfastening means mounted on the vehicle to aiiix said film to the upperend of each stake such that the iilm is maintained in a verticailydisposed position along said path.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including, secondary feed means onthe vehicle to supply a continuous length of cord to the upper edge ofsaid lrn, and said fastening means being operable to aiiiX both saidtilm and cord to the stakes. v

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said fastening means is astapler which staples the iilm to the upper end of each stake.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stake driving meansincludes a reciprocating driving head mounted to move vertically at anincluded obtuse angle to the earth toward the rear of said power means,said angle being determined by the rate of movement of the vehicle alongthe earth and the spacing of said stakes, activating means mounted onthe vehicle operable to reciprocate the driving head up and downrelative to the earth, and holding means operable to position a stake tobe driven immediately below said head.

)References Cited by the Examiner Engineering News-Record, page 69, May15, l1958.

EARL J. WIT MER, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

5. AN APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A WATER BARRIER ALONG A PREDETERMINEDPATH; COMPRISING: A VEHICLE MOVABLE ALONG THE EARTH IN SAID PATH; PLOWMEANS AFFIXED TO THE VEHICLE OPERABLE TO CUT A NARROW SLIT IN THE EARTHCONFORMING TO SAID PATH, FEED MEANS ON THE VEHICLE OPERABLE TO SUPPLYVERTICALLY DISPOSED CONTINUOUS PLASTIC FILM TO SAID SLIT BEHIND SAIDPLOW; STAKE DRIVING MEANS ON THE VEHICLE OPERABLE TO IMBED THE LOWERENDS OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED STAKES IN THE EARTH ALONG SAID PATH, ANDFASTENING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE TO AFFIX SAID FILM TO THE UPPEREND OF EACH STAKE SUCH THAT THE FILM IS MAINTAINED IN A VERTICALLYDISPOSED POSITION ALONG SAID PATH.